Zuckert, Leon

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Zuckert, Leon

Zuckert, Leon, Ukrainian-born Canadian violinist, violisi, conductor, and composer; b. Poltava, May 4, 1904; d. Toronto, May 29, 1992. He studied violin with Boris Brodsky in Poltava (1916-18). Following sojourns in Poland and Argentina, he settled in Canada in 1929. In 1937 he took a conducting course with Reginald Stewart at the Toronto Cons, of Music. He was active as a performer, composer, and arranger for Canadian radio programs. He also played in various orchs., including the Winnipeg Sym. Orch. (1932-34), the Toronto Sym. Orch. (1951-56; 1961-63), and the Halifax Sym. Orch. (1963-65; 1967-69). His works generally followed in the tonal tradition. His wife was the poet Ella Bobrow, who collaborated with him on many songs.

Works

dramatic: B a I I e t :Preciosa y el Viento (1986). ORCH.: My Canadian Travels (1938); 2 syms. (1949, 1962); Quetico (1957); Divertimento Orientale for Oboe and Strings (1965); 2 Moods in 1 for Strings (1967); My Paintings for Strings (1969); Impressions of Tenerife (1970); Fantasia on Ukrainian Themes (1973); 2 Spanish Meditations (1974); Concerto for Bassoon and Strings (1976); Elegía: Elegy (1977); A Homage (1980); Escenas Granadinas: Spanish Ballet Suite (1980); Symphonic Sketch (1982); Evening in a Russian Village for Mandolin Orch. (1985). CHAMBER: N’ila for Violin or Cello and Piano or String Quartet (1916; rev. 1953); Gypsy Memories for Violin and Piano (1938); 2 Hebrew Pieces for String Quartet (1947; rev. 1982); Preludio en Modo Antiauo for Brass (1964); String Quartet (1965); Psychedelic Suite for Brass Quintet (1968); Little Spanish Dance for Flute and Piano (1970); Sonata Amorfa for Violin and Piano (1970); Elegiac Improvisation for Flute and Piano (1972); Sue Le Lac Baptiste, Ontario for Saxophone and Piano (1972); Short Suite for Trumpet or Clarinet or Viola and Piano (1974); Suite for Bassoon (1975); Concerto for 2 Cellos and Piano (1979; also for Cello, Bassoon, and Piano); Melancholic Piece for Trombone or Bassoon or Cello and Piano (1980); For Ofra: 2 Contrasting Moods for Cello and Piano (1982); Sonata for Solo Viola (1984); piano pieces. VOCAL: Prayer for Voice and String Quartet (1960); Dnieper for Chorus and Orch. (1961); Song in Brass for Voice, Viola, Brass, Timpani, and Percussion (1964); Quinteto de la Luna y del Mar y Oceánida for Medium Voice, String Quartet, and Piano (1972); In the Gleam of Northern Lights for Chorus, Dancers, and Orch. (1974; also for Chorus, 2 Pianos, Strings, and Percussion); Longing for Peace for Baritone, Chorus or Men’s Chorus, and Piano or Orch. (1978); Sholem-yeh! Milhome-nein! for Chorus and Piano (1985); other choruses and songs.